Department 56, a leading collectibles and specialty giftware company, announced it has completed the acquisition of the Axis Corporation, a privately held designer, importer and specialty retailer based in Salt Lake City. Axis' products, primarily porcelain dolls, doll accessories and plush items, are marketed under the brand name Geppeddo. The company operates customized kiosks located in approximately 350 major malls and shopping centers throughout the United States and Canada during the peak holiday shopping season. Revenues for the fiscal year ended February 28, 2001 were nearly $15 million.